By: Sarah Chaisson-Warner
Whether you have submitted your script for coverage services before, or you are new to the process, you might have questions about how coverage works, what it’s meant to do, and how it might be right for you.
Our Shore Scripts script readers are arguably the most experienced in the industry. They are writers in their own right with produced credits and reps, including WME, UTA, and more. They have read for major studios and production companies. There’s no better team of readers out there to review your work and offer substantive support as you aim to write your best script yet.
In this comprehensive 3-part article series, you will hear from several of our coverage analysts – Cressida, Michelle, Sam, Ron, Andrew, and Alex – as they weigh in and answer common questions about coverage services, as well as hear from some writers who have found success utilizing Shore Scripts coverage. So let’s dive into part 1 –
What is Coverage?
Getting coverage on your screenplay is one of the most valuable parts of the writing and editing process. But what is coverage, and how does it work?
Coverage was born through the submission process at studios. A staff member – usually an in-house story analyst – was responsible for reading submitted scripts, summarizing them, and then making a recommendation to the company’s producers about whether the studio should take on the project. This was – and continues to be – a useful process for producers and agents. For the writer, not so much. Writers rarely receive this feedback on their scripts, particularly if the script is given a “pass.”
Recognizing that writers also need quality feedback to improve their script, independent script consultants began offering coverage services, but for a different purpose. Writer-Focused Coverage helps writers get a sense of their script’s strengths and weaknesses, what needs improvement, what may be confusing, and the general marketability of the story. Most coverage reports include detailed feedback on a variety of categories, including:
- Premise/Theme
- Hook/Stakes/Plot
- Characters
- Dialogue/Sound
- Structure/Pace
- Production/Representation/Presentation
More expansive coverage reports also include a synopsis from the reader, which may be useful when pitching your script, as well as an industry scorecard and a predicted industry outcome using pass, consider, or recommend.
What Can Coverage Do For Me?
When considering purchasing coverage, you should first ask yourself a few questions:
- What stage is my script in – early draft, somewhat edited, or fully formed?
- What do I want out of a coverage service?
- What do I want the reader to pay special attention to?
- What will I do with the feedback I receive?
When you purchase coverage from Shore Scripts, you can expect several things from our impressive roster of readers. First, you can expect to be paired with a reader who has extensive screenwriting experience and a deep desire to support writers.
“I read and critique scripts because I want to help writers make their work better. So for me, that’s a healthy balance of pointing out what’s working well, as well as the things that could be working better,” says Cressida.
You will also receive a deep and thorough reading of your script. “Writers should expect for us to get to the nitty gritty,” says Michelle. Readers will highlight what is working or what they are impressed by, “but ultimately our job is to help the writer tell their story to its absolute best potential.”
As part of that thorough read, you can also expect solid, actionable feedback designed to improve your script. “Writers should expect their script to be thoroughly analyzed and possible avenues for further exploration of their stories to be proposed,” says Sam Tracton. Writers receive extensive, actionable advice specific to their script. “Rather than just saying, ‘The inciting incident needs to come sooner,’ they’ll get a tailored suggestion of how to do so,” says Andrew Stewart.
At What Point Should I Seek Out Coverage?
Coverage can be valuable at any point in the writing process – on an early draft, or after extensive edits. But there are pros and cons to seeking coverage at different phases of your writing – before you seek out coverage, consider at what point you are in your script’s journey and align your expectations to the outcomes typically associated with that phase.
Many writers will seek coverage on early drafts, both as an opportunity to test the waters for their idea but also to identify any potential problems before too much time is spent on multiple edits. “Whether it’s a treatment or an early draft, getting feedback can help to pinpoint the areas the writer needs to work on the most, or can even lead to changes that might otherwise be harder to accept if the draft had been worked on for a very long time already,” says Michelle.
Early problems that coverage can help identify are noting if a concept or premise is too familiar or known, and needs shifting to really stand out in a crowded marketplace. “Being aware of potential concerns for things like marketability can also help to shape the script in the most effective way possible.”
On the other end of the spectrum, coverage can also be extremely valuable when the draft has gone through a series of edits and is considered to be a more “polished” draft. “Usually, the writer will have had earlier feedback and the script will be further down the line, so it might be the case that we’re picking up on things that need more work to elevate the project even further. For example, we might focus on ways to alleviate budget concerns or improve craft/style. We might check that structural elements for plot and characters are as effective as they can be, and identify any scenes that aren’t as strong,” Michelle says.
Take The Next Step
If you are interested in receiving coverage on your script, consider Shore Scripts’ services! We offer a variety of coverage options and our readers will create tailored coverage to suit your needs. Whether you’re looking for condensed or comprehensive feedback for your Feature, TV Pilot, or Short, we’re ready to help you make your screenplay the very best it can be . You’ll receive actionable feedback from writers who want to help you succeed!
At Shore Scripts, we offer three, six, and ten page coverage services, as well as two-page coverage for treatments and two-page coverage for the first ten pages of your script. And there’s an added bonus – Verve has partnered with Shore Scripts to provide industry-focused coverage on the top screenplays submitted to our coverage service.
With the writer’s prior permission, the Verve team will review and write industry-focused notes on one script per month. Their notes will then be sent back to the chosen writer, offering you an invaluable insight into how the industry evaluates your story, helping you not only grow as a writer but learn more about how to navigate the film and TV industry. The Shore team will choose the project to be sent to Verve each month. Verve is one of the biggest talent agencies in the world, repping A-List writers and talent.
With everything Shore Scripts has to offer, consider joining the hundreds of other writers who have improved their script and strengthened their story through our coverage service. Still have questions? Email Patty, our Coverage Services Manager, and she can help!
